Psychiatric Technicians & Aides Interview Questions & Answers

Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental illness and developmental disabilities.

Interviewers look for candidates that demonstrate excellent skills such as:

• Interpersonal skills
• Patience
• Compassion
• Observational skills
• Physical stamina

In this blog, we discuss commonly asked interview questions during job interviews for Psychiatric Technicians & Aides positions. We also discuss the qualities that interviewers look for in successful candidates. In other words, we’re here to help you out!

Also, read more about frequently asked job interview questions here and check our job interview preparation checklist.

Skills Interviewers Look For In Successful Candidates

Below we discuss the skills you can highlight in your answers to demonstrate that you’re qualified for the job.

Compassion

Why interviewers are interested in how compassionate you are:

Because psychiatric technicians and aides spend much of their time interacting with patients, they should be caring and want to help people.

Interpersonal skills

Why interviewers are interested in your interpersonal skills:

Psychiatric technicians and aides often provide ongoing care for patients, so they should develop a rapport with them. Gaining such rapport makes psychiatric technicians and aides better able to treat their patients and evaluate their condition.

Learn more about interpersonal skills interview questions and how to answer them!

Observational skills

Why interviewers are interested in your observational skills:

Technicians must watch patients closely and be sensitive to any changes in behavior. For their safety and that of their patients, they must recognize signs of discomfort or trouble among patients.

Related: Psychiatrist Cover Letter Examples & Writing Guide

Patience

Why interviewers are interested in how patient you are:

Working with the mentally ill can be emotionally challenging. Psychiatric technicians and aides must stay calm in stressful situations.

Physical stamina

Why interviewers are interested in your physical stamina:

Psychiatric technicians and aides must lift, move, and sometimes restrain patients. They must also spend much of their time on their feet.

(source: bls.gov)

Psychiatric Technicians & Aides Job Interview Questions & Answers

During a job interview, the hiring manager wants to discuss several things. Think of your:

• Employment history
• Skills and abilities
• Accomplishments
• Job qualifications
• Educational background
• Career goals
• Personality

Below you find a list of commonly asked interview questions.

Examples Of General Psychiatric Technicians & Aides Interview Questions

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. How would you describe yourself?
3. Why do you want to work here?
4. What interests you about this position?
5. Walk me through your resume.
6. What motivates you?
7. Why are you leaving your current job?
8. Describe your work ethic.
9. What is your greatest strength?
10. How does your experience qualify you for this job?
11. What is your greatest weakness?
12. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
13. Tell me about a challenging work situation and how you overcame it.
14. What are your expectations for this position?
15. What are your career goals?
16. Why should we hire you?
17. What did you like most about your last position?
18. What did you like least about your last position?
19. How do you handle stress?
20. What is your greatest accomplishment?

Learn how to answer these common job interview questions!

Examples Of Specific Psychiatric Technicians & Aides Behavioral Interview Questions

Learn more about answering behavioral interview questions by using the STAR interview technique.

1. Describe a time you successfully performed in a high-stress work situation.
2. Give me an example of how you recognize signs of discomfort or trouble among patients.
3. How would you handle an aggressive or angry patient? Can you give me an example?
4. What is the most difficult case you ever had to work with?
5. How would you rate your communication skills? Can you give an example of how you ensure clear communication?
6. What do you consider the most challenging about working as a psychiatric technician or aide?
7. Tell me about a time your patience was tested. How did you deal with it?
8. What have you done in the last year to improve your skills to become a better psychiatric technician (or aide)?
9. What do you consider your greatest achievement as a psychiatric technician (or aide)?
10. Describe a time when you effectively and calmly deal with a stressful situation.

Learn more about questions to ask the interviewer during your job interview.